Process of forming concrete products by vibratory means



Nov. 4 1924n 1,513,801

E. M. CAMP PROCESS OF FORMING CONCRETE PRODUCTS BY VIBRATORY MEANS Filed Feb. 23 1924 INVENTOR. few M) (77MB A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES ERVIN M. CAMP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE- PATENT OFFICE.

HALF TO UNITED CEMENT PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A

CORPORATION.

PROCESS OF FORMING CONCRETE PRODUCTS BY VIBR-ATORY MEANS.

Application filed February 23, 1924. Serial No. 694,686.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERVIN M. CAMP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illi- 6 nois, have invented a certain new and useful Process of Forming Concrete Products by Vibratory Means, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being 10 had to the accompanying drawings, in

which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to the process of molding concrete, clay or similarplastic material having a water saturation while in the fluid or plastic state and depending upon the elimination of the water saturation for setting and becoming solid.

The usual method of forming concrete blocks, slabs, tiles or the like, has been to arrange the forms in a horizontal plane, pour the material thereon and tamp and trowel it into the form. The material being poured in this manner, and the form being substantially horizontal, the free escape of air bubbles is prevented, resulting in the air being trapped so as to form pockets in the surface which must be thereafter troweled over or otherwise eliminated by a finishing process. To overcome this difficulty and decrease the expense and time consumed in eliminating air pockets and refinishing, I place the forms in a vertical position and pour the material into one end so that it may fill up from the bottom, permitting the air to freely escape and agitating the same by means ofa vibrator, thus eliminating the air, and preventing pockets from being formed on the surface.

In order to facilitate the. setting of the material and the expulsion of the air therefrom, I employ a vibratory process. This gives the material a greater density by more completely expelling the air and water therefrom so as to permit the solids to more closely combine.

In the use of the vibratory process heretofore, it has been found that the agitation of the material dispels the water in such fash ion as to leave a water mark on the surface at such places as the water is permitted to escape from the forms. It is necessary, therefore, to prevent leakage at any particular point, and as it is not practical to make the forms water tight, I provide a box-like structure in which the forms are placed which is water tight, thereby preventing the escape of water during the setting process.

In positioning the forms vertically rather than horizontally as has usually been the custom, space is saved by positioning one slab adjacent the other, using the form as a partition wall between the individual slabs or tiles to be formed. However, in removing the form after the material has become set, difliculty is experienced by reason of the vacuum between the form and material causing a resistance to the separation thereof which often results in breaking the slabs while being removed. I overcome this difficulty by placing a flexible sheet of metal or any other suitable material adjacent the stiff or heavy form, thus separating the material therefrom and thereby permitting its ready removal. The flexible sheet may be easily removed by taking the corner thereof and peeling it off allowing its flexibility to permit air to enter and destroy the vacuum resistance.

In employing the above mentioned feature of my invention, I economize in space, produce a denser and heavier product with less cement, overcome the water marking due to using the vibratory process and eliminate breakage by providing the flexible separating sheet. However, probably the most important feature is the elimination of the air pockets in the surface of the finished product,thereby giving a more finished sur-. face without the necessity of an additional refinishing process.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of mold pacts, container, and vibrating device which may be used in carrying out my process. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing in addition thereto a hopper for filling the molds. Fig. 3 shows a completed slab with the flexible sheet partially removed therefrom.

The process consists of mixing the material in the usual or customary manner and pouring it into the hopper 10 preparatory to discharging the same into the forms 11. As herein shown there are a plurality of slabs 12 being formed for use in constructing a septic tank. The forms 11 for moulding the slab are mounted upright in a water tight box 13, in such manner that the edges abut against the side frames 14 so as to provide ends of the slabs of any desired configuration. The forms comprise metal nonflexible plates which are spaced apart the desired thickness of the slabs to be formed by insertion in the grooves 15. Adjacent the surface of said forms there are positioned flexible metal sheets 16. While the forms are being filled, the box, and forms contained therein are vibrated by applying to them any desirable vibrating attachment. As herein shown, the box 12 is supported on a frame 17, pivotally mounted on a plurality of supporting arms 18 connected with a stationary frame 19. A rod 20 is pivoted at one end to the frame 17; The other end of the rod is connected to the eccentric driving member 21, which, upon being rotated by the pulley 22 through the shaft 23, causes a reciprocal movement of the rod, which in turn causes the box and material contained therein to vibrate.

In employing this process the forms 11 are first positioned within the box 13 and held therein by the frames 14, which are arranged so as to give the proper spacing for forming the desired thickness of the slabs. The flexible sheets 16 are then positioned adjacent one side of each of the forms. The material is then poured between each of the forms at one side thereof so that it strikes the bottom of the box and spreads thereover, after which it fills up, expelling the air before it,

as shown in Fig. 3. This manner of pouringand expelling the air rather than in tamping it, eliminates air pockets and gives the product a finished surface.

While the plastic materials are being poured into the form, some of the water with which the material is saturated and the finer particles of aggregate will discharge from the form into the box as the level of the plastic material rises in the mold as shown in Fig. 1.

During the placing of the material in the mold by the vibratory process the heavier portions of the mass settle, causing the surplus water and intrained air to rise to the top and when the mold is completely filled with'the heavier aggregate the surplus water will flow over the top of the box. this, due to the water tight box, there will be no further leakage or drainage of water from the mass, conse uently the product will come from the mol without showing any difference of surface color in its different parts After the material has become properly set and it is desired to remove the same from the box, by reason of the flexible sheet, the individual forms may be readily removed,

after which one corner of a flexible sheet may be lifted and the sheets peeled from the After material without affecting or'breaking" the surface thereof.

The discoloration in surface is due to leakage ofwater from the mold during. the early setting and after the vibration is completed so that if the leakage is stopped at the bottom of the mold, there can be no discoloration.

From the above it will be observed that this process embodies many advanta es over what has heretofore been done. Perhaps the principal advantage in the use of this process lies in the increased density and strength of the product and the elimination of the water mark when the vibratory process is used, the vibratory process having other advantages which need not be mentioned here. The other advantages or features of the process reside in the saving of space while moulding as well as the elimination of breakage by using a flexible sheet of material adjacent the forms.

The invention claimed is:

1. The process of forming an object of plastic material consisting of mounting a plurality of forms in a substantial water tight container, vibrating said container and forms for causing the water and air contained in the material to be expelled therefrom so as to permit the material to solidify, said expelled water being caused to overflow the top of the container so as to leave no water marks on the material, and thereafter removing the forms from the container and material after the latter has become set.

2. The process of forming an object of plastic material consisting 1m mounting a plurality of forms in a substantially water tight container, applying adjacent one surface of each of said forms a flexible sheet, pouring the material therein, vibrating the container and forms for causing'the water and air to be expelled from the material, the surplus water to overflow the top of the container, thereafter removing the forms and materiabfrom the container, se aratin the forms, and peeling the flexible s eet an forms therefrom, substantially as described.

3. The process of forming an object of plastic material consisting of mounting a plurality of forms in a substantially air tight container, said forms being so mounted that the surfaces of greater area will extend vertically, pouring the material into said forms, and vibrating said container and forms for causing the water andair contained in the material to be expelled therefrom for permitting said material to become solidified. 1

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

ERVIN M. CAMP. v 

